The Hidden Costs of High Achievement: A Guide to High Functioning Codependency with Terri Cole

The Hidden Costs of High Achievement: A Guide to High Functioning Codependency with Terri Cole

Author: Julie Solomon November 20, 2024 Duration: 49:53
In today's episode, I interview psychotherapist Terri Cole about high functioning codependency (HFC), a term Terri coined to describe high-achieving individuals who take on excessive responsibility for others, often at their own expense. Terri explains the impact of HFC, such as stress and strained relationships, and highlights the importance of setting boundaries and allowing others to handle their own issues. Terri offers practical advice for breaking the cycle, including mindfulness techniques and self-regulation strategies. We discuss the benefits of overcoming HFC, like improved energy and relationships. Terri also shares relatable examples and encourages small, manageable steps to start change. Be sure to check out the amazing resources, including Terri’s book and a starter kit for those looking to break free from HFC. More about Terri: Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist and global relationship and empowerment expert and the author of Boundary Boss and Too Much! For over two decades, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs. She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change. She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show.  Liked this episode? Make sure to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review with your takeaways, this helps us create the exact content you want!  KEY POINTS:  00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:42 Meet Terry Cole: Expert on Codependency 01:51 Understanding High Functioning Codependency 05:45 Terry's Personal Journey and Insights 11:55 Traits of High Functioning Codependency 17:03 Challenges and Recovery 23:30 Setting Boundaries with Loved Ones 24:22 The Journey to Recovery 25:13 The Cost of Overfunctioning 26:18 The Real Flex: Resisting the Urge to Fix 26:58 Surrender and Acceptance 28:04 Recognizing High Functioning Codependency 28:40 Tools for Change 30:08 The Importance of Vulnerability 31:17 Living Life Fully Present 31:44 Practical Steps to Recovery 40:18 Family Dynamics and Delegation 42:45 Conclusion and Resources QUOTABLES: And really, you start to see how, if they just give themselves the gift of surrender—and truly seeing and loving people for who they are, nothing more, nothing less—they can allow themselves to experience life, relationships, and intimacy in a whole new way  - Julie Solomon I'm talking about things we do voluntarily—things we've automatically taken on as our job, even when they don’t really need to be. The first question is, do I have the bandwidth to do this without becoming resentful? And the second is, do I even want to do it? - Terri Cole GUEST RESOURCES: Check out Terri's Book, TOO MUCH: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High Functioning Codependency. ➡️ Follow Terri on Instagram RESOURCES: [HIGH LEVEL SUPPORT] Ready to Scale Your Business and Build a Legacy? Join the Luminary Waitlist Now! [GET MORE VISIBLE] Turn your messaging into a client-attracting machine. Grow your authority and drive sales in just 1 hour per week. Click here to get access to my new training!  [ORDER] my book or Audible, Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable so you can leverage the power of your own influence. ➡️Follow Julie on Instagram! MUST HAVES THIS MONTH: [MEMBERFUL] Start growing your audience into a thriving community and membership business at memberful.com/julie. 

For established entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators, there often comes a point where the work you deliver has evolved beyond the story you tell about it. Woman of Influence exists for that precise, pivotal moment. Hosted by brand strategist and best-selling author Julie Solomon, this weekly podcast is a deep, practical resource for aligning your public message with the private mastery you've cultivated. The conversation here moves beyond basic marketing tactics into the core of strategic personal branding-how you communicate your value, scale your influence with integrity, and build a business that truly reflects your current expertise. Since 2017, Julie has guided listeners through these nuanced challenges across more than 500 episodes, drawing from her own experience and that of other successful leaders. Each episode of this podcast feels like a focused coaching session, whether Julie is unpacking a specific framework or interviewing a guest about their real-world journey. You'll hear candid discussions on navigating visibility, pricing with confidence, refining a compelling offer, and leading from a place of authentic authority. It’s for those who are ready to close the gap between being excellent at their craft and being known for it, making Woman of Influence a trusted tool for meaningful business growth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Woman of Influence
Podcast Episodes
When Your Business Evolves Faster Than Your Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:50
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Samantha Skelly for a deeply honest conversation about identity, presence, and what it really means to lead from your highest self. We talk about releasing performative success,…
The Power of Noticing What’s Already Yours [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:55
In this solo episode, I explore a powerful shift that’s been reshaping my life and leadership: moving from owning my blessings to truly stewarding them. I share how a simple but confronting truth—“It’s not good stewardsh…
From Ownership to Stewardship: The Shift That Changes Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:12
In this week’s episode, I am opening up about the surprising fear that can surface when everything you prayed for finally arrives — the clients, the clarity, the calm — and how your nervous system often needs time to cat…
Patterns, Power & Plant Medicine: A Journey of Healing with Joy Shaw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:44
In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Joy Shaw for a powerful and heart-opening conversation about calling, courage, and trusting the path God lays in front of you. Joy shares her incredible journey of walking…
Healing the Nervous System to Step Into Your Next-Level Self [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:07
In this episode, I sit down with Fiona Walsh for a powerful conversation about healing the nervous system, releasing old protective patterns, and stepping into your next-level identity with clarity and confidence. Fiona…
Stop Teaching, Start Transforming: The Art of the Conversion Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:40
In this powerful conversation, I’m joined once again by my friend and speaking coach, Colin Boyd, to celebrate the release of his brand new book One Presentation Away: Become an Irresistible Speaker and Convert More Clie…
Why it’s time to break up with success with Christina Galbato [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:48
In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Christina Galbato—entrepreneur, creator, and host of She’s WELLthy—for an honest and deeply personal conversation about growth, spirituality, and the courage it takes to st…
The Messy, Beautiful Middle: Embracing Your Next Chapter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:44
In this episode, I sit down with one of my dearest friends, Alyshia Ochse—an actress, writer, and host of That One Audition—for a deeply honest conversation about creativity, evolution, and what it means to live fully ex…
Don’t be the best, be the only [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:04
In this powerful and deeply personal episode, I sit down with my dear friend, Derek Warburton, for an intimate conversation about identity, community, healing, and light. Derek—an acclaimed media personality, fashion ico…
The Power of the Pause: Rebuilding in Alignment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:50
In this solo episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the most important seasons of my business and life—the quiet recalibration that happens when what once felt aligned no longer fits. This isn’t burnout or s…